Locomotive boiler structure



DEC. 26, 1 A. plLCHER LOCOMOTIVE BOILER STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 18, 1930 l/l IZ, /0 7 C 8 o oo@ooo oo O o 000000o 0000 oo oooooooa O INVENTOR JQ/@44M M Patented Dec. '26, 1933 l .UNITED AgrrrEis; PAT-,ENT OFFICE- Application October 1S, 1930.z Serial No. 489,660

" 24 claims. (o1. 122-493) f My invention relates to the construction of boilers of the type in which boiler sheets form a corner where the steampressure tends to distort the sheets from the desired form. A familiar example of such structure is found in Vrailway steam locomotive boilers where the roof sheetmeets the back head and where the wrapper sheet meets the front tube sheet. I shall use theterm head asindicating either of these sheets. It is customary to provide braces extending diagonallyA across the corners and conn necting the roof sheet and thevertical heads: These braces are in addition to the. staybolts connecting the crown sheet 'and roof sheet and the staybolts connecting the back head and rebox back sheet. r

The general object of ,my invention is to provide a form sustaining boiler. head Landf to reduce the weight and cost of the usualoonstruetion referred to and toreduce the cost of maintenance which results from the necessity of frequent inspection and tightening of securing elements relied upon to maintainthe shape ofthe associated parts of the boiler. I attain this object by making a substantial part ofthe head with integral reinforcing webs and anges, and

preferably by embodying the desired structure in a one piece castinggwhich is rigid enough t-o maintain its form against any pressure present in boiler operation.-A Y A y Other detail objects of .my-invention will be apparent from the following description taken `in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of my specication in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper rear corner of a locomotive l iirebox showing the adjacent crown and roof sheets,. door sheet, and back rhead. l. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of `a longitudinal half of the structure shown in Figure 1. i

. Figure 3 is a vertical transversesection taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top View of the back head casting. Figure is a horizontal section through the back'head casting taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is la` vertical longitudinal section through the upper front portion of the boiler showing the roof sheet and the casting forming the upper portion of the boiler front tube sheet.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section through the i back wall casting and-is taken on the line 88 ofFigureG. w

j Figure 9 is a top View of the casting` shownlin Figures 7 and 8;

The boiler roof ,or wrapper sheet 1, crown sheet n 2, fire box door sheet 3, and back head sheet 4 are of the usual boiler plate oonstructionjexceptthat the sheet'terminates adjacent the levelV of the crownsheet and the upperl portion of the back headcomprises a casting including abodyI wall member 5` having a flange extending along the top and ends of wall 5 for attach-j ment of the roof sheet. A` horizontal web 7 extends from side `to side of the boiler and merges withwall 5 and each of its endsis forked to provide upwardly and downwardlyinclined i arms 8 and 9,each of which has a similarly inclined flange 10 for attachment to the roof sheet. Flanges 10 merge with and form, in effect, ex-

tensions of ange 6. Web'rl and arms 9 Vare provided with suitable openings for .thel extensiontherethrough` of the usual staybolts 11 which conf nect the roof sheet and crown sheet. Y I

Walli5 is furtherreinforced, andflange 6 and web 7 arelalso braced, by a plurality of upright webs 12, preferably extending thefull depth of wall 5 andwith their forward edges terminating short of the staybolts 11, although; if desired,4 these webs 12 may be projected between the stayboltsand made of any desired depth. i l f Web 7 is further reinforced vby an upright flange 13 extendingalongits forward edge and merging with the upper arms 8 at the ends of the web 7. Suitable ribs 14 extend vertically between web ''and flange 13.

suitable bosses 15, `16, 17, andl 1s are provided onwall 5 formountingthe throttle valve stem, throttle lever, water gage column,` and .washout plugs. Similar bosses may be provided for other equipment whichgit is desired to applyv tothe wall member.

I prefer to adda series of pads 1.9 to, the outer face ofthe wall' 5 for the purpose of indicating the location of websv rI'and 12 whereby workmen will be guided in drilling through the wall vfor attaching bolts,v rivets, etc. This structure allows for the ready reinforcing of the back head'rnember 5 wherever anyopenings are necessaryor roo any fittings and connections are placed on the member. y i

The back head sheets 4 are shown welded to the lower edgeof the member 5 as indicated at'n and the roof sheets are shown riveted tothe member 5 as indicatedat m. Butit is to be understood that rivetedfor welded'joints may be providedbetweenthe cast member Band any or' all'of the'sheets.

l 1 and also includes an integral horizontal web' The casting forms a beam of great strength, extending from side to side of the boiler and capable of taking care of any load that may come against wall 5 from internal pressure. The bifurcated ends provide for rivets to the roof sheet vwhich will adequately resist the forces concen trated at the ends of the beam and also will withstand the full load which may be applied to the top portion Aof the member 5. AIhe'arm's at the end ofthe beam-accommodate the ends of` one Vrow of staybolts between them and the, inclination of the lower arm 9 disposes it more nearly normal to the staybolts and minimizes the sizelof the staybolt openings therethrough. VByV-providing flange 13 entirely on the upper face of web '7, I avoid any tendency to trap steamrising from` the crown of the nre box belowl web 7. g Y The principle of the design of the'b'a'clr. head is followed in constructing thefront head 'meme ber of the boiler,v illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, in 4which thefrontfiue sheet :S is seated against a ring R secured to'the boiler wrapper sheet and i'slheldagainst distortion-'by theflues F inserted ini openings K and expanded in the usual manner. The upper portion of the head includes a wall 2D provided with an integral' arcuate flange 21 for attachment to the roofV sheet 22 projecting outwardly below the roof sheet and having a reinforcing flange 23 onrits inner' edge projecting above and below the web. Vertical webs 24 and 25 stiffenwall 20 and webs 25`and suitable ribs 26, and othersuif desired, extend to flange 23 and tie .all the partstogether, thus forming a beam ofgreat strength'. A Vsuitable opening 27 in wall-20, surrounded' by a deep circularrib 28, provides anoutlet for steam fromthe dry pipe 29 and the rib is enlarged as at 3U toprovide for studs securing the flange on the steampipe which leads tothe steam chest o-r to the superheaterheader. I

The flue sheet S is welded to wall member 20, as indicated at n', although it may be overlapped `and rivetedv thereto if desired. .Y

This front'head may be modified by carrying ange 21 all aroundthe upper edge'of the head in which case the Vring R may be eliminated. The Webs 7 and-22 shouldbe of a depthat least approximating the depth of the cast upper part of the head, the usual comparatively shallow ribs provided: for a'ttaclnn'entV of braces beingalone inadequate-*to replace these corner braces.v These webs may, however, be varied in shape-and posip tion. Various other modifications in the details ofj the structure may be made androne or more of Vthe desirable features of my design maybe elimi' nated without departing from the spirit of my invention. I consider it within the scope of my invention to form the heads out of two, or even more castings` welded together intoan'integral Whole to form an integral unit adaptedl forthe intended purposes of my one piece casting.k e

Irrespective of theseand other modifications, my invention embodies an Vintegral structure 'which replaces in the usual-construction avery large number of pieces including, in addition to I the boiler backhead and nue sheet, T-barbrackets, rivets for attaching same, lugs on the boiler, rivets for attaching the same, a large number y of pieces passingfrom the T-'bar `brackets to the lboiler roof sheet, lugsand `pins for attachingthe same and cottersfor holding the pins.v -Due to theelimination of the Vusual braces'between the roof sheet and the backhead, thev upright 'reineV forcing webs can be freely arranged to best resist the forces applied to the backhead.

Careful calculations comparing these two structures have demonstrated a very large reduction in weight and a very large reduction in cost.

Having described my device as above what I claim is: y

1. A locomotive boiler head structure comprising a wall member extending'across the boiler and a'deep web integral therewith and disposed trans- ,versely` thereof from end to end, there being a flange along the outer edge of said .web spaced from said member, whereby said structure forms a angedbeam extending from sideto side of the boiler.

2. A locomotive boiler head structure comprising a wall member andan integral deep web disposed perpendicularly thereof, there being a flange alongftheouter edge of said web, and elements disposed transversely of said web between the saine andsaid wall member and saidlfiange for distributing the foreesapplied to the structure, said wall member havingitsV edge turned inwardly and merging with the ends of said web andV flange andi arranged for Vattachment. to the boiler side and'top sheets.

Y V3. A locomotiveboiler head 'structure consisting of a wall member, integral arms extending transversely of said' wall member from the edge thereof for attaching a boiler roof sheet and ribV like elements arrangedV perpendicularn to saidA member` and reinforcing the same to constitute' therewith' a' beam between `said arms and ar-A ranged towithstand high-steampressures applied thereto, irrespective of braces tothe boiler roof sheet. V 1J 4. A locomotive boiler headxcasting comprising av verticalv wall' member, 'and' a horizontal web reinforcinglsaidwall memberwith its ends forked and' terminating iny flanged arms for attaching the boiler roof'sheet.

5. A locomotive boilerhead' casting comprising anupright wallmember, and a horizontalY web reinforcing said wall Vmember with each end forked to form' roof sheetfattacl'iingY arms ini olined upwardly and downwardly respectively from the plane of said web.

6. A locomotive boiler head'easting comprising aiwall member having anr inwardly disposed flange along its edge for securing a roof sheet thereto, a reinforcing web 'spacedifromits edge, and a roof sheet attaching arm at the Aen'dof said web.

7.*.A locomotive boiler head casting comprising a main wall member havingl an inwardly disposedA fiange along its edge'` for sec'uring'a'roof sheet thereto, and having a relatively deep reinforcing 'web extending transversely of said wall member,

and. said flangeand roof sheet attaching arms extending fromisaid'wall'member and merging with the ends of said web and vprojecting beyond the same for securing the casting toa roof sheet.

8. A locomotive boiler head casting comprising a wall member having an Vinwardly disposed flange along its edgeforsecuring a AroofA sheet thereto, .a reinforcing web spacedfrom its edge; and `a plurality of roof vsheet* attaching arms at each end of said'web and merging vwith said flange. Y 1 9. Ina locomotive boiler, a'rebox crown sheet; a roof sheet, a rebox` rear; sheet, a backwhead member above said rear sheet and-secured to said roof sheet,A vertical reinforcing webs onsaid back head extending from above the level of -said crown sheet to said roof sheet, and a horizontal ,Weblon iso ist

Vportion of which is held against distortion by said back headintermediate said crown sheet and roofY sheet and merginglwith saidgvertical webs, staybolts connecting said crownsheet and roof sheet,-V and staybolts connectingsaidrear sheet and-back head, the `boiler beingv free of braces between said roof `sheet and back head. 1 i

l0. In-a locomotive boiler, a firebox crown sheet, a roof sheet, a back head casting including a horizontal reinforcing web projecting between said crown sheet and roof sheet and having each end forked to form roof sheet attaching arms inclined upwardly and downwardly respectively, and staybolts connecting said crown sheet and roof sheet and extending through suitable openings provided in said web and at least one of said arms.

l1. In a locomotive boiler, a roof sheet, re box rear and crown sheets, and a back head, the lower portion of which is held against distortion by means of staybolts to said rear sheet and terminates near said crown sheet and the upper portion of which above the re box crown sheet comprises a wall memberand an integral element disposed transversely thereof and extending from side to side of the boiler to reinforce said wall member against distortion, said wall member and element being secured directly to said roof sheet.

12. In a locomotive boiler, a roof sheet, re box rear and crown sheets, and a back head, the lower portion of which consists of boiler plate and is held against distortion by means of staybolts to said rear sheet, and the upper portion of which is a casting formed separately and includes a wall member secured to vsaid lower portion and an element integral with and disposed transverselyof said wall member and extending from side to side of the boiler and secured directly to said roof sheet to reinforce said wall member against distortion.

13. In a locomotive boiler, a roof sheet, a iire -box crown sheet, a back head, the lower portion of which is held against distortion by means of staybolts and the upper portion of which above the fire box crown sheet comprises a wall member with an attaching flange along its edge, and a plurality of transversely disposed webs integral therewith and extending in different directions across the same and merging with said iiange to reinforce the wall member against distortion intermediate its edges.

14. In a locomotive boiler, a back head, the lower means of staybolts and the upper portion of which above the lire box crown sheet comprises a wall member with its edge portion turned inwardly for direct attachment to a boiler roof sheet, and

integral arms comprising restricted extensions of said Wall member for direct attachment of a boiler roof sheet. l

15. In a locomotive boiler, a back head, the lower portion of which is held against distortion by means of staybolts and the upper portion of` which above the lire box crown sheet comprises a wall member having an inwardly disposed flange along its edge for securing the boiler roof sheet Y and having an integral reinforcing web spaced from its edge and extending across the boiler and an elongated arm projecting from the end of said web for direct attachment to the boiler roof sheet. 16. In a locomotive boiler, a back head, the

lower portion of which comprises a sheet held against distortion by means of staybolts connected to said sheet and the re box door sheet and the upper portion of` which above the re box crown sheet, comprises a wall member having an inwardj; ly extending liange around `its top edge for directly-securinga roof sheet thereto, andtransverse :beam like members integral withsaid wall member and flange and extending across the boiler for i reinforcing said Wall ,member and `flange against distortion.` M

17. In a locomotive boiler havingasection substantiallyiilled with nues, and a sectionabove the same for dry steam, a wrapper sheet, a ,front head, the lower portion ofwhich comprises a ilue sheetheld against distortionY by Athe rboiler flues, andthe upper portion of which head'abovegthe fiues comprises a wall member and an element integral therewith projecting transversely therefrom and extending from side to side of the boiler to reinforce said wall member against distortion, there being a direct connection between the ends of said element and said wrapper sheet.

18. In a locomotive boiler, a front head, the I lower portion of which consists of boiler plate and is held against distortion by the boiler nues, and the upper portion of which is a separately formed casting and includes a wall member secured to said lower portion, and a web integral with said wall member and extending transversely thereof from side to side of the boiler, and additional webs disposed transversely of said first mentionedweb, sai-d webs being arranged to reinforce said wall member against distortion and to provide direct connection between said casting and the wrapper sheet.

19. In a locomotive boiler, a front head, the lower portion of which consists of boiler plate and is held against distortion by the boiler ilues, and the upperportion of which is a separately formed casting and includes a wallmember se- 1110 cured to said lower portion and having a web in- A' tegral therewith and disposed transversely thereof, there being a flange along the outer edge of `said web, and elements disposed transversely of said web between the same and said wall member and said flange for distributing the forces applied to the structure, there being adirect connection between the ends of said web and said wrapper sheet. u

20. In a locomotive boiler, a front head, the lower portion Vof which consists of boiler plate and is held against distortion' by the boiler flues, and the upper portion of which is formed separatelyr and includes a wallV member 'secured tosaid i lower portion and having a deep circular rib integral therewith, to which the boiler dry steam pipe `is attached and having a still deeper horizontal web adjacent to said circular rib and extending across said Wall member and merging at its ends with flanges for direct attachment to the wrapper sheet. V 21. In a locomotive boiler, a roof sheet, a crown sheet, a. front head, comprising a boiler plate portion with its upper edge terminating adjacent to the'level of saidcrown sheet, and a cast member secured to and extending upwardlyrfrom said upper edge and directly connected to said roof sheet, and provided with a reinforcing web extending a substantial distance over said crown sheet and from side to side of said roof sheet with its ends connected directly thereto.

22. A locomotiveboiler head casting comprising a vertical wall member, and a horizontal web reinforcing said wall member with; its ends formed for attaching the boiler roof sheet.

23. In a locomotive boiler, an integral cast metal structure including a wall constituting the upper part of a boiler head from siderto side of the boiler, a web extending perpendicularly of `said Y Wall, said web in greatest depth at least approximating'the depth offsaidl wall, andi bracing ribs extending4 aeross the 'corner between said Wall andr said web, said Web andA ribs forming with said Wall? a; beam" of su'icient strength to resist the boiler pressure Without the `us'e'of additional brace'sf't'o'said Wa1l, saidstructure being arranged at'itsedgesior attachment to the boiler Wrapper sheet.

-24.In"a`1oeomtive boiler, a roof sheet,n a re box'crowri sheet, andrariintegral east metal structrefineluding a Wall constituting the upper part mi 'Y zor JOHNA; PILCHER. 

